THE planned South Wales Metro project has taken a step forward after the Welsh Government named the four companies bidding to run the scheme.

The Welsh Government’s economy and infrastructure secretary Ken Skates today named Abellio Rail Cymru, Arriva Rail Wales, KeolisAmey and MTR Corporate (Cymru) Ltd as preferred bidders for the service, which will see a network of trains, trams and buses running throughout the region

The winning bidder will also run the Wales and Border rail franchise from October 2018.

South Wales Argus: A Welsh Government poster advertising the South Wales Metro project.

 A Welsh Government poster advertising the South Wales Metro project.

The service will be run by Transport for Wales, a newly-formed non-profit organisation similar to Transport for London and will stretch from Monmouthshire in the east to Porthcawl in the west and from Penarth and Barry in the south to Abergavenny and Merthyr in the north.

Mr Skates said he was pleased to see progress in the project.

“We now have four highly skilled, experienced companies entering the next, competitive phase and I am keen to hear more from them about what they can offer Wales and how they can deliver on our plans for integrated public transport,” he said.

“Over the next 10 years I envisage significant strides in the delivery of our public transport network including the electrification of the Swansea, Valleys and North Wales lines, a South and North Wales Metro and widespread structural improvements that are already in the pipeline.

“The priorities for the next franchise will include updated rolling stock, reduced journey times and the use of modern technology and approaches to deliver an improved service for passengers across Wales.

“I am confident that we are putting the building blocks in place to deliver on our ambition and I look forward to working with these bidders in developing a high quality integrated public transport system for Wales.”

South Wales Argus: An artist's impression of how the South Wales Metro carriages could look.

 An artist's impression of how the South Wales Metro carriages could look.

The number of passengers using trains in Wales grew from 18 million in 2003 to 29 million ten years later, and is expected to increase by another 74 per cent by 2030.

Only one of the four bidders will be awarded the contract and there is no scope for it to be split.

The final tenders will be submitted next July, with the 15-year contract expected to be awarded at the start of 2018, to begin in October that year.